On the France 2 news this Monday, January 10, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a further relaxation of the health protocol in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic in schools and the risk of mayhem.
But will that be enough to defuse the strike on Thursday?
On the contrary.
For Guislaine David, general secretary of SNUipp-FSU, the first union of primary teachers, "
after this intervention, those who hesitated will have even more reason to strike
".
Teachers, nurses and National Education inspectors say they are exhausted.
Faced with the increase in cases of Covid-19 within the classes and the successive reductions in the health protocol at school, the unions launched a strike call last Friday.
They accuse the Ministry of National Education of an "
indescribable mess
" and report a feeling of abandonment and anger among the staff.
Who will participate in this strike and what are the demands?
Le Figaro
takes stock of this day organized on January 13.
Read alsoCovid-19 at school: "My children are no longer considered as students but as cases"
Who is participating in this strike?
The call to strike came from a statement by seven public sector unions, published last Friday.
Quickly, they were joined by four private sector unions, a union of national education inspectors and a union of nurses.
The demands remain mostly similar: they state an untenable protocol and an exhaustion never seen before.
What are the unions' demands?
In the various press releases, four major demands emerge: a return to the previous protocol, enhanced protection of staff and students, expansion of the pool of replacements, and specific measures for the organization of the Bac.
A return to the previous protocol
Initially, the protocol provided that with each new positive pupil in a primary class, the other children were to undergo a PCR or antigen test immediately, before two self-tests. From now on, since this Tuesday, January 11, a simple self-test, which will have to be repeated on D + 2 and D + 4, will have to be carried out. These three tests will be valid for seven days. In addition, parents will no longer have to pick up their child immediately after they have been in contact, but at the end of the course.
If some unions recognize "
a little better
", others call for a return to the old protocol, that is to say for the closure of a class as soon as a positive case appears, for isolation of intrafamily contact cases, and a policy of systematic weekly preventive saliva tests.
Sud-Education claims in its press release to "
renounce the successive reductions in the protocol implemented since the end of November
"
.
Be better protected
In addition to the health protocol, unions and some teaching staff are asking for better protection to prevent adults or children from catching Covid-19.
If the government has announced the supply of surgical masks by the end of the month, the unions regret this late arrival.
The nurses of Snies-Unsa, on the front line, are asking for the supply of FFP2 masks.
In addition to the masks, other requests are made: such as an expansion of the testing capacity, as well as the installation of CO2 sensors in the classrooms and in the canteens.
Jean-Michel Blanquer recalled this Monday on France 2 that the installation of these sensors fell within the remit of the municipality.
Read alsoCO2 sensors in classrooms: ventilation would also benefit students in the longer term
Increase the pool of replacements
Last week, as of January 6, 5,631 educational staff tested positive for Covid-19, and 8% of teachers were absent.
This is why Snuipp-FSU called for an expansion of the “
pool of replacements, to compensate for absences
”.
The union urges the government to recruit additional and incumbent lists.
Several young professors and retirees were contacted.
In Rennes for example, while Brittany has between 8 and 10% of absent teachers, or in Meurthe-et-Moselle, as in the message below.
In a letter addressed to its academic director, a retired professor having been called recommends to contact first of all the students on the complementary list of the competition of professors "
who are waiting for that
".
Postponement of the Bac exams
Some unions are also anticipating the organization of the bac exams, which take place in no less than seven weeks.
The Snes-Fsu wishes a postponement of the tests, faced with "
the pedagogical discontinuity which further weakens learning
".
“
Under these conditions, how can we believe that it is possible to prepare with peace of mind for the Baccalaureate exams which are scheduled in seven weeks?
“Asks the union.
Read alsoBaccalaureate reform: lack of "maths", prepas brought to close
What is the current health situation at school?
As of Monday, January 10, 10,453 classes were closed, announced Jean Castex, adding: "
It's a lot and at the same time, it's 2%
".
Of 12 million students, 47,453 tested positive and 75,000 were in quarantine last week.
Read also Covid-19: is the obligation to vaccinate children "necessary", as Patrick Pelloux says?
What do parents' representatives think?
The Federation of Parents' Councils (FCPE) issued a statement on Monday asking parents of school children not to send their children to class on Thursday, January 13.
"
Parents of FCPE students have decided to join the national day of mobilization on Thursday, January 13, calling on parents not to send their children to school that day
"
,
writes the federation, which speaks of "
white day
"
.
What is the government's position?
Friday, Jean-Michel Blanquer recognized a protocol "
extremely difficult
" to live for families. Gabriel Attal also said he was aware of the "
constraints
", affirming "
to understand that there is fatigue
" among the staff concerned: "
The corollary of leaving schools open is to have staff who are very mobilized and who are facing difficult pressures
, ”he said on Sunday.
But for the government, this protocol is a way of avoiding the closure of schools, which would be "
the worst solution
", recalled the government spokesperson.
Emmanuel Macron also recognized "
a very difficult situation for everyone
", and called on Monday evening to "
show solidarity, commitment and requirement
".